Last year I posted a free sewing tutorial to make a Fabric Cradle Purse, and I've been very fortunate that the post was shared on Pinterest quite a lot, and I've had some great feedback on it.   A few days ago Jess emailed and asked if she could sell cradle purses made from the tutorial, and that she's made a few.  I said yes, certainly, and could I share a couple of her pictures.  Here are two that she's made for her little girls, they are pretty adorable!


So I did a little search and found another lady selling hers on Etsy HERE, it comes with a cute baby and a knit blanket and pillow.  Very cute!

Cradle Purse sold on Etsy

I also found someone on Etsy saying that the cradle purse they were  selling was something she just thought up, and I was a bit disappointed.  I don't necessarily need credit, and it's possible that someone else thought of it too and made it in the exact same way with the exact same proportions... but.... it would have been nicer if she had just said nothing at all and just sold it without taking credit for the idea.  I suppose these things happen and are expected when you share ideas with the world.  It's just a matter of time.

I still love my fabric cradle purses quite a lot!!  And... I need to find a little girl to make one for again, my little girls that were dolly age have all grown up!

If any of you are making these cute little doll cradle purses, I'd love for you to share pictures with me too.  You can find the tutorial here.

Take good care,
 

Save 25% Off at Emmaline until 

Valentines Day!!

Treat yourself to supplies to make a professional looking bag that you will

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

 

Yes, I've got a SALE coming up, and this is just a heads up so you are ready for it!  My Valentines Sale will be announced on my newsletter (sign up on the right side bar) on Wednesday.  I'll also post it on Facebook as well as here on the blog.  Not all statuses are shared to all followers on Facebook these days, so make sure you are on the Newsletter list!  There will be discounts on all purse supplies and bag sewing patterns.


Also, last week I added a couple of new hardware items.  I'll be using these in my next handbag pattern, and I want to have all the supplies available in a neat little hardware kit that goes with the pattern.  Purse feet and square rings for handbag straps will be a couple of the optional items.  You can find them in my shop now... but it's okay if you want to wait for my Valentines Sale!!
 

 Thanks for looking, may your bobbins always be FULL
 

The Great Granny Bag:
I've been dying to make a bag with bamboo handles for a long time.  I don't really care if they aren't trendy or in style, I just kinda like them and I wanted one.  I love the light feel of the bamboo rings in my hands, I love that handmade, "basket-ish" look, and best of all, I love how EASY and FAST they are to make.

Bag #1 made out of Ty Pennington's Decor Fabric

I made my first one, with wrong dimensions, out of Ty Pennington decor fabric and it was a bit thick in the gathered areas, but keeps it's shape very well.  The second bag, with the dimensions worked out, is made from a modern Moda print quilting cotton, and it turned out rather nice.  Note: If I were to use home decor fabric again, I would cut the exterior fabric at least 1.5 cm or 1 inch longer from top to bottom so that I would have a bit more fabric to wrap around the handles.  Also, a thimble is necessary to do a small bit of hand sewing through decor fabric.

Bag#2 is made of Quilting Cotton, and a bit easier to work with.

I found a pattern in a Japanese magazine, but it was Japanese.... and I don't read Japanese.  I think with the very few diagrams and instructions they gave, anyone who spoke or read Japanese, might have issues too, but after some trial and error (Bag #1), I managed to make a very passable fabric bag with bamboo handles (Bag #2).  Bag #1 is now my knitting bag, perfect for holding my scarf projects, and Bag #2 might end as a gift to daughter #1, who has started to knit herself.  She is not knitting herself, she knits ALSO! 

Makes a great knitting bag!

Ok, enough silliness, on with the tutorial: